LETTER: There must be accountability

Published: Monday, March 4, 2013 at 5:29 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 4, 2013 at 5:32 p.m.

Last Monday, Sheriff Todd Entrekin, flanked by police chiefs from around the county, openly opposed three proposed laws dealing with school safety and firearms. The fact that this press conference was announced with very little lead time is in itself a cause for concern.

Senate Bill 129 and House Bill 55 deal with the issue of pistol permits, sometimes referred to as concealed carry permits.

H.B. 53 concerns the use of non-law enforcement volunteers to provide armed security at schools. I will concede to Sheriff Entrekin that there are legal and safety issues that probably make that an untenable idea.

What I will not concede to the good sheriff is that any one man should have the absolute control over who is or is not issued a concealed carry permit. There is too much potential for permits to be denied over personal issues, political affiliations or the fact that the sheriff just doesn’t want to issue the permit. At present, the sheriff is the last word and there is no appeal.

By passing a must-issue law, the burden is placed on the sheriff to justify why a person should not be issued a permit. Why is Sheriff Entrekin opposed to being held accountable? He is an elected official who is answerable to the people.

I can forgive politicians a lot. All politicians are, by nature, liars. They tell people what they want to hear in hopes that the people will elect them. It has always been this way and most likely always will be. The one thing I cannot and will not accept in a politician, however, is arrogance.

Arrogance manifests itself in politicians who think they know what is right for the people, no matter what the people themselves think.

When an elected official holds the rights of a citizen in his hands, there should be accountability. It is said that “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Our citizens would do well to remember that.

Write your representatives and tell them to pass legislation that will hold elected officials accountable.

<p>Last Monday, Sheriff Todd Entrekin, flanked by police chiefs from around the county, openly opposed three proposed laws dealing with school safety and firearms. The fact that this press conference was announced with very little lead time is in itself a cause for concern. </p><p>Senate Bill 129 and House Bill 55 deal with the issue of pistol permits, sometimes referred to as concealed carry permits.</p><p>H.B. 53 concerns the use of non-law enforcement volunteers to provide armed security at schools. I will concede to Sheriff Entrekin that there are legal and safety issues that probably make that an untenable idea.</p><p>What I will not concede to the good sheriff is that any one man should have the absolute control over who is or is not issued a concealed carry permit. There is too much potential for permits to be denied over personal issues, political affiliations or the fact that the sheriff just doesn't want to issue the permit. At present, the sheriff is the last word and there is no appeal.</p><p>By passing a must-issue law, the burden is placed on the sheriff to justify why a person should not be issued a permit. Why is Sheriff Entrekin opposed to being held accountable? He is an elected official who is answerable to the people.</p><p>I can forgive politicians a lot. All politicians are, by nature, liars. They tell people what they want to hear in hopes that the people will elect them. It has always been this way and most likely always will be. The one thing I cannot and will not accept in a politician, however, is arrogance. </p><p>Arrogance manifests itself in politicians who think they know what is right for the people, no matter what the people themselves think.</p><p>When an elected official holds the rights of a citizen in his hands, there should be accountability. It is said that “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Our citizens would do well to remember that.</p><p>Write your representatives and tell them to pass legislation that will hold elected officials accountable.</p><p>Charles Evans</p><p>Gadsden</p>